Year 7

Welcome Guide

Dear Year 7 learner

Congratulations on gaining your place here at Unsworth Academy. We are really, really looking forward to working with you and helping you make the most of this great opportunity!

You may already have visited Unsworth Academy, on one of our Open Evenings or Open Mornings and/or as part of our primary school activity programme. Even if you haven’t visited us before, please do not worry, because I know that once you do visit, you will very quickly start to feel at home.

We have a very welcoming and friendly team here and you will have lots of help in getting to know how we do things to ensure that you are safe, happy and making the best academic progress.

We have put together this information booklet to support you to familiarise yourself with our team, our building and our routines. We are confident that you will find it very useful and reassuring.

We are determined to give you the best high school experience. In return we expect you to do the very best you can in all you do by behaving well, showing consideration for others and making the most of every opportunity that the school offers you. I know that you will enjoy a successful time here and make your own special contribution to the life of the school.

Congratulations and I look forward to meeting you all in person very soon.

Have a safe and happy Summer.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Armstrong

Academy Principal

Our mission is to work together to

inspire and challenge our learners to

achieve excellence. This mission is

reflected in our school motto:

Our vision is to be ‘outstanding in

everything we do’. This is our end

goal and what we strive to achieve

with every action we take.

Our values are reflected in our core

principles and standards. We want all

members of the school community to

have respect, pride and ambition for

ourselves, our school and others.

Inspire, Challenge, Excel.

SLT TEAM

Mrs Armstrong, Academy Principal

Mr Fair, Deputy Principal

Mrs Power, Deputy Principal

Mr Orrell, Assistant Principal

Mr Leyland, Assistant Principal

Mr Lamb, SLT Secondment

Mr Shabaz

Head of Year 7 Progress

Mrs Slater

Pastoral Manager, Year 7

Mrs Chamberlain

Attendance Officer

Mrs Atkinson

SENCO

Now you know you will be joining Unsworth Academy in September, it is a good idea to have as much information as possible before you join us.

The address is:

Unsworth Academy, Parr Lane, Bury, BL9 8LP

The telephone number is:

0161 796 9820

The e-mail address is:

information@unsworth.shaw-education.org.uk

The website address is:

unsworthacademy.org.uk

The name of the Principal is:

Mrs S Armstrong

Here are some positive things you can do to keep your friendship strong and make new ones at high school.

Empathise - Put yourself in your friend’s situation to understand what they’re going through.

Support - You can show your support for your friends by just listening when they want to share.

Compliment - Everyone likes to receive a compliment. Compliment your friend on a new hairstyle, a great score on a test, a smooth football move. Be specific and keep it simple. Choose the right moment to give the compliment.

Respect privacy - Sharing secrets is a fun part of a friendship. It’s hard to regain your friend’s trust if you tell secrets you weren’t supposed to share.

Encourage - Use encouraging statements like, “You can do it”.

When you wonder if you are being a good friend, ask yourself this question:

Am I treating my friend like I want my friend to treat me?

Joining in conversation or a group activity can be scary. However, it is one way to make new friends. Try these strategies for joining in.

Watch and listen. Observe what the

group is doing. Listen to what the

people are saying. Don’t interrupt.

Make a friendly comment or gesture.

Nod your head and smile. Make

comments like “That’s a good idea”, or

“That looks great”.

Find something you have in common

with the group. Think about your own

experiences. You could say “I saw that

movie”, or “I have that game at home”.

Accept ‘no’ for an answer. Sometimes people

don’t want you to be part of the group. Don’t

argue or complain. Go and ask someone else.

Ask to join the group. Wait for a pause in the

conversation. You could say “Can I walk with

you?” Do you need any help? or “Can I play?”

Here are some situations you might want to join in with. Try and plan what you may say or do. You could try acting these situations out.

1. You see three of your classmates playing football after school. You know one of them pretty well. You don’t know the other two. You’re quite good at being in goal.

What could you do?_____________________________________________

What could you say?____________________________________________

2. You hear two classmates talking about the latest PlayStation game. You were playing on it last night.

What could you do?____________________________________________

What could you say?____________________________________________

3. Two classmates you know are looking at a piece of homework that you were also set, but they look stuck. You think you may know the answer to the question that they are struggling with.

What could you do?___________________________________________

What could you say?___________________________________________

4. our classmates are looking at a text message they have received from a friend. They are laughing. You’re sitting at the same lunch table.

What could you do?___________________________________________

What could you say?___________________________________________

5. Two classmates are asking the teacher for permission to work on an art project during lunch hour. Art is your best subject and your project is already on display.

What could you do?___________________________________________

What could you say?___________________________________________

Sometimes you will need our help with things like:

- not knowing what the homework is

- not being able to find your way around

Don’t worry!

There are many people who could help you, but they won’t know that you need help unless you tell them.

Friends - Ask friends or other students if you don’t know where to go. You can ask them what the homework was if you are not certain. They can also help to work out new situations like going to the cafeteria.

Teachers/Head of Year/Pastoral Manager - Ask your teachers if you don’t know what to do in class or for homework. They will also be able to help you if you have forgotten something or don’t know where to go.

People at home - People at home will be able to help you plan and organise your equipment and homework. They will want to know if you have any problems. They will be able to help you work out the best person to ask if you have problems with work or may try and contact someone in school and ask them to help you.

Try and work out whom you would approach in these situations:

You don’t know where your next lesson is.

You cannot read your homework notes.

In the lesson you did not understand what the teacher wanted you to do.

You have not got a pencil which is needed to complete your work.

REMEMBER TO ASK FOR HELP!

If you do break a school rule or behave in a way that upsets or hurts someone then you can show you are sorry by apologising. Sometimes this can be hard as it can be difficult to admit that you are wrong.

Here are some examples of times when you may need to say sorry.

When you forget something

If you forget something, it is not a big problem. Everyone forgets things and it is always a good idea to say you are sorry.

Imagine you have forgotten something. Practise saying the right words with a partner and then it will be easier when it does happen.

For example:

“I am sorry Sir / Miss. I’m not used to my timetable yet and I’ve forgotten to bring the right book. I will remember it for the next lesson.”

When you make a mistake

Mistakes can sometimes happen because you did not really understand what the teacher meant. Some things may be different from what you are used to and if you pretend that you understand when you don’t the teacher will not know that you need help.

Think up a situation in which you have not understood exactly what the teacher meant and discuss this with someone at home. Take turns to explain to the teacher what has happened.

For example:

“I am sorry Sir / Miss, I have been listening, but I don’t understand. Please could you tell me again.”

Sometimes something can happen at school that makes you upset or anxious. A lot of people feel like this especially when they are starting somewhere new.

Keep calm. Tell yourself, “I can solve this problem if I stay calm.”

Decide what the problem is.

- Are you frustrated because you could not do something you wanted?

- Are you upset because someone did something to you?

- Are you worried because something has gone wrong?

Think about possible solutions.

Think about the consequences. What will happen if you try different solutions?

Pick the best solution.

Talk with someone at home about what you would do in each of these situations in school.

1. You haven’t done your homework.

2. You have forgotten your student planner.

3. You are in a crowd going upstairs and you think someone pushed you.

4. You think you are lost.

5. You see someone being bullied.

6. You find someone crying in the corridor.

7. You’ve lost your purse/ wallet.

8. You find someone’s purse.

9. You’ve ripped your trousers/ skirt.

Remember!

Bullying is not:

1. An accidental bump or jostle, in the school corridor, for example

2. An argument with a friend

3. A friend being nasty over something specific

4. A one-off fight or argument

Time Period

8.45 – 9.05 am Form time

9.05 – 10.05 am 1

10.05 – 11.05 am 2

11.05 am – 11.25 am Break

11.25 am – 12.25 pm 3

12.25 pm to 1.25 pm 4

1.25 pm – 2.05 pm Lunch

2.05 pm to 3.05 pm 5

English 8

Maths 7

Science 7

Spanish 4

Geography 4

History 4

Technologies 5

PE 4

Art 2

Performing Arts 2

PSHCE 2

RE 1

The Unsworth Way Your Community Your School Your Way

Classroom Focus

Respect your teacher and

peers

Be equipped and ready to

learn

Focus on learning

Respond to reasonable

requests 1st time

Contribute to a CALM,

POSITIVE classroom.

Classroom Focus

Respect your community

—use the bins

Respect the authority of

staff and prefects

Be calm and sensible going

to lessons and lining up

Respect our local

community — you

represent ALL of us.

Before leaving for school there are a lot of things to think about, starting from the

night before.

Things to think about in the morning. Put them in the right order.

Get dressed

Check you have the correct equipment in your bag

Check your timetable

Wash

Check you have got your homework

Clean your teeth

Say “Goodbye”

Check you have the correct money

Wake up

Eat your breakfast

Leave for school

Any others

_____________________________

_____________________________

Time What to do

How are you going to get to school?

__________________________________________________________

How long will it take?

__________________________________________________________

If you are catching the bus, what time does it leave?

__________________________________________________________

What time will you need to leave home?

__________________________________________________________

Find a map that shows both where you live and your Secondary School.

Photocopy the map and draw on your route to school or your route to the

bus stop.

Unsworth Academy Bespoke Sports Kit for

Boys and Girls

Short sleeve training top with logo white/

grey/purple

Shorts—purple with logo

Socks—purple

Training pants/leggings—black with logo

Training top—black with logo

Plain solid training shoes

Football boots (optional)

Boys’ Uniform

Unsworth Academy bespoke grey blazer

White traditional school shirt

Black traditional school trousers (no

‘skinny’ style or black jeans)

Unsworth Academy bespoke purple tie

Plain black socks

Apron for Technology subjects

Footwear

Plain black leather shoes (not boots, trainers

or canvas pumps/shoes. No coloured mark-

ings)

Coats

Plain coloured non-branded school coat

Optional

Plain V-neck traditional grey school jumper

(not sweatshirt material or hoodies)

Girls’ Uniform

Unsworth Academy bespoke grey

blazer

White revered collar school blouse (not

school shirt which buttons at the top)

Unsworth Academy bespoke school

skirt

Black traditional school trousers (no

‘skinny’ style or black jeans)

Plain black socks or tights

Apron for Technology subjects

Footwear

Plain black leather shoes (not boots, trainers

or canvas pumps/shoes. No coloured

markings)

Coats

Plain coloured non-branded school coat

Optional

Plain V-neck traditional grey school jumper

(not sweatshirt material or hoodies)

Additional Clothing

This must comply with the school’s

requirements concerning colour, fabric and

safety. Headscarves must be grey or black.

Learners will also require a plain coloured rucksack or school bag

Boys’ Blazer and Shirt Boys’ Trousers Tie

Girls’ Blazer and Shirt Girls’ Skirt

PE Kit

Girls’ Uniform Boys’ Uniform

Our mobile phone rule:

Things you will need to bring into school every day:

Every day you will need ……..

At least 2 pens and 2 pencils

A green pen

A highlighter

Ruler, rubber & pencil sharpener

A clear plastic pencil case

Scientific calculator (FX83GT)

A protractor and compass

Supplied by school ……….

Learner planner

Exercise books

Text books

The school accepts learners may choose to bring in mobile phones to contact parents/carers whilst travelling to and from school. However, they must NOT be used in school and the school accepts no responsibility for loss or damage incurred to them. Any learner needing to contact home or vice versa must do so via the school telephone. All mobile phones must be switched off and kept out of sight either in the inside blazer pocket or in a school bag. If learners are seen using their mobile phone in school then they will be confiscated and placed in the school safe, to be picked up by their parent/carer the next day, or as soon as possible thereafter.

Moving to high school is a big step forward in your life. We hope the information in this booklet has helped you to get to know more about Unsworth Academy. If you have any further questions, please write them down below and we will answer them when we next see you.

My Question:

_________________________________________________________

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My Question:

_________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________

My Question:

_________________________________________________________

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Take care. Best wishes from Team Unsworth.